Stones Launches Investigation Into Postle Cheating Saga
Table Of Contents
Stones Gambling Hall, the casino at the center of the Mike Postle cheating allegations, has launched a second investigation into the cheating accusations.
On September 29th, the official @StonesLivePoker account tweeted that "no evidence that any cheating had occurred" was found after a full investigation and that "[t]he recent allegations are completely fabricated."
Late on October 2nd, Stones tweeted it was "suspending all broadcast of poker play" while it conducted a "multifaceted investigation with outside experts," - seemingly the second investigation into the matter.
Stones tweeted details of the appointment of Michael Lipman, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California on the evening of October 3rd. Lipman is also the former chief of that office’s fraud unit.
(1/4) .@StonesGambling is committed to the integrity of our games. We have been alarmed by allegations of unfair pl… https://t.co/m6hUTLiLdb
— StonesLivePoker (@StonesLivePoker)
(2/4) Yesterday, we temporarily halted all broadcasts from Stones. We have also, as a result, halted the use of RFI… https://t.co/EOjXAKJyEP
— StonesLivePoker (@StonesLivePoker)
(3/4) To that end, we are today announcing the creation of an independent investigation team. The team will be led… https://t.co/lHSgCyzv83
— StonesLivePoker (@StonesLivePoker)
(4/4) He is assembling other members who will be announced in due course. Stones intends to conduct this investigat… https://t.co/5wkONRW7e5
— StonesLivePoker (@StonesLivePoker)
Owners' Lawyer Leads Investigation
While Lipman seems like a worthy candidate for the complex role of investigator, he appears to have formerly acted as a lawyer for the owners of Stones. To some, that puts into question the independency of the investigation.
After Andrew Burnett of PokerTube asked on Twitter if Lipman has had any dealings with Stones and whether the case was brought to the attention of the California Gambling Control Commission, twitter user @PocketAbes replied with images of a letter penned by Lipman from 2015. The letter showed that Lipman was the personal attorney of the Stones Gambling Hall owners.
Gambling lawyer Mac VerStandig gave his input to the revelations, calling for Stones to share the fact that “the head of the independent investigation team is your former counsel.”
Maybe worth sharing the head of the independent investigation team is your former counsel? No doubt a qualified and… https://t.co/6iFEWudMKX
— Mac VerStandig (@mac_verstandig)
Cheating Scandal Makes Mainstream News in the U.S.
The Postle cheating case made it onto ESPN’s Sports Center on October 3rd. Host Scott Van Pelt summarized the situation in easy to understand language for the masses. He ended with an analogy to basketball, wondering why - what's supposed to be one of the best players in the world - keeps playing low stakes.
“If you're the equivalent of a guy that shows up to play pick-up basketball, and you never ever missed a shot for a couple of years, wouldn’t you go play in the NBA? If you’re some sort of poker God who almost never lost, who made the right call or fold virtually every single time... If you were this good, why would you be playing in games only with a video feed at a $1/$3 table at Stones poker room? Why wouldn’t you be in Vegas, winning all the money in the world?”
In this Series
- 1 Mike Postle Accused of Cheating During Livestreamed Cash Games
- 2 10 Suspicious Hands Played by Mike Postle on Livestream
- 3 Stones Gambling Hall Suspends All Poker Broadcasts Following Alleged Cheating
- 4 Stones Launches Investigation Into Postle Cheating Saga
- 5 PokerNews Podcast: Stones Scandal
- 6 Mike Postle Goes on Mike Matusow's 'The Mouthpiece' Podcast, Denies Cheating
- 7 LATB, WSOP, PokerStars, and More on Security of Their Livestreams
- 8 Mike Postle, Stones Parties Hit With $10M Lawsuit
- 9 Graphics Company Reacts to Mike Postle Cheating Allegations Saga
- 10 Watch List: Investigative Videos Mike Postle Cheating Allegations
- 11 Watch Whistleblower Veronica Brill on Joey Ingram's Podcast
- 12 PokerNews Podcast: Jeff Boski on Postle Scandal
- 13 Mike Postle's Lawyer: "I Know Such Streaks Are Possible"
- 14 The Postle Lawsuit is Not as Clear Cut As It May Seem
- 15 Top 10 Stories of 2019: Mike Postle Caught Cheating on Livestream
- 16 Mike Postle Accused of Avoiding Court Summons
- 17 Mike Postle Files, Possibly Leaks Own Motion to Dismiss
- 18 Marle Cordeiro Files Lawsuit Against Mike Postle Seeking $250K
- 19 Stones in New Motion to Dismiss Mike Postle Lawsuit: “Casinos Do Not Owe a General Duty of Care to Gamblers"
- 20 Motion for Sanctions Filed Against Mike Postle; Latest on Motion to Dismiss
- 21 Plaintiffs Respond to Stones & Justin Kuraitis Motions to Dismiss in Mike Postle Case
- 22 PokerNews-Op Ed: Postle Tightlipped in Oral Arguments, Motion to Dismiss Outcome a Coinflip
- 23 Plaintiffs' Case Against Mike Postle, Stones Dismissed by Judge
- 24 Plaintiff's Lawyer Offers a Reflection on the Stones/Mike Postle Ruling
- 25 Judge Dismisses Marle Cordeiro’s Case Against Mike Postle for Lack of Jurisdiction
- 26 Settlement Finalized for 60 Plaintiffs in Case With Stones, Kuraitis
- 27 Mike Postle, Justin Kuraitis Break Silences in Wake of Settlement
- 28 Leaked Term Sheet Reveals Details Regarding Stones/Kuraitis Settlement; Plaintiffs Paid $40,000
- 29 The Muck: Kuraitis, Stones Lash Out After Twitter Silence
- 30 Plaintiff's Counsel Maurice "Mac" VerStandig Reflects on the Mike Postle Litigation
- 31 Galfond, Berkey Helping Propel Research into Mike Postle's Play
- 32 Top Stories of 2020, #5: Mike Postle Saga Winds Down
- 33 Postle Hit With Two Motions to Strike, Dropped by Lawyers
